The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-11-10
the rapid growth of Capitalization and
ariStOcracv. and

lin AoPAN SAo"o IL VI O11C 0AAA6oAOA HA4O
aristocracy; and
WHEREAS, Believing that if these
baneful influences and tendencies
are not checked and overcome. they
will subvert the government, destroy
it's form and spirit, and in the end
utterly impoverish and enslave the
people and
WHEREAS, Believing further, that
the overthrow and certain destruction
of the growing and menacing dangers
to the institutions of the country and
the liberties of the people depends OF
agitation, education and cooperation,
carried on by the means of thorough
organization Of the masses, and espec-
tally of the agricultural and laboring
classes, established on just and correct
principles, non-partisan and non-sec-
tartan in character, with clear and
well-defined objects and purposes.
Therefore, we, the Farmers Alliance
and Cooperative Union of America,
in national convention assembled, in
order better to perfect u organiza-
ton and meet the necessities of our
class and a public want, adopt and
publish the following declarations of
purposes:
Regarding the education of the
people as fundamental to good govern
ment in sustaining it's institutions and
multiplying its blessings, as we'll as
an essential qualification for accom-
plishing our purposes, we shall at all
times advance and encourage it in the
highest possible degree, among farm
ers and laborers and their children, by
every means in u power. Through
the means of investigation and discus
sion in our Alliance meetings, our
press and public speakers, We propose
to examine the various methods and
system of education in use, with the
view to determine the best adapted to
the wants and conditions of the agri-
cultural and laboring classes, believing
the correct theory when established,
will embrace the moral. physical and
industrial, as we'll as mental training
of our children in every grade Of
schools; that this system will strength
en- the attachment of these classes to
their profession instead Of alternating
them from. it, as the prevailing
methods has a tendency to do that it
will better qualify them for success
and happiness in life; will render the
farm and shop more attractive and
remunerative; give the means and
time for more general thought and
useful study; increase the opportunity
and inclination to adorn the home and
practice the social virtues !; broaden
the sphere of their knowledge and
usefulness, and give character and in
fuence to h%usbandry and labor and
for these reasons we are specially
friendly to industrial education, and
shall labor to advance and build up the
agricultural and mechanical schools of
the country by extending them every
possible encouragement and support
at our command.
BUSINESS MATTERS.
In business matters we believe the
prevailing system is in many particu-
lars wrong, and that between the pro-
Queer and consumer, the buyer and
seller, the methods should be changed,
the process shortened and the expenses
reduced, and plans adopted that will
more justly and satisfactorily distribute
profits and give to labor a fair share
of it's earnings. We believe that in
cooperation a remedy may be found
for most of the evils and inequalities
growing out of the methods now in
general use that in cooperation
exists, as we believe, the very essence
of justice, fairness and equity that
when we'll understood and closely OBJ
served, its principles, by intelligent
and honest management, may be sue
cessfully applied to most, if not all the
business pursuits and enterprises of
the country; that it possesses the ele-
mentary forces for solving the vexed
question of capital and labor, and for
breaking the power of monopoly; and,
hence, we shall urge the study and
practice of cooperation in the Alliance
as a mighty lever that will lift the
burdens and weight from labor and
the productive industries of the coun-
try that are lying with such crushing
force upon them, and by which the
possibilities of the Alliance for carry
ing out it's good work may be in
creased and strengthened.
Dor 1rIoAI nrarrrpc